The NHS appears to be in crisis and that means the NHS is a business problem. According to the Health and Safety Executive: ‘Stress, depression or anxiety’ accounted for 17 million working days lost in 2021/22.
NHS came to birth 75 years ago to meet an obvious need. Whatever the ethical and compassionate drivers were for the NHS, there was also an economic imperative.
We do not have bread rationing – although we do have food banks. We do not have an exhausted workforce from a war – although we do have a tired nation from a pandemic. We do not have symbols of hope – although… no, there is no although. There appears to be no ideal aspiration.
It is this lack of aspiration, which is economically damaging. People need aspiration. To quote from a Harvard Business Classic: ‘Strategic intent gives employees the only goal that is worthy of commitment.’[i] i.e an aim or purpose.
How mental health undermines our productivity.
‘Mental health is a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, (my emphasis) and contribute to their community.’
Now let us get back to the economics. Any guesses as how much that works out in financial terms? Financial figures only appear to be available for 2019/2020, but the figure for ill health (which includes mental health) was 11.2 billion.
What does this mean for you?
Now, turn the gaze on your own organisation, could mental health problems (from which any of us could suffer) be affecting your business? I am not saying that you must solve the problem or that you might be the cause. I am simply asking, does it exist? Because, if it does, alongside its human price is an economic price and alongside its economic price is another human price. That other human price is the pressure put on remaining employees when they need to cover for an absent colleague.
If other employees need to cover, there will be two long term consequences.
- Those employees become tired and less productive and more prone to ill health themselves.
- Productivity may well decline, making an organisation less profitable, which increases its vulnerability for success and can cause further pressure.
Put bluntly, good mental health is everybody’s business and in everyone’s interests.
Rev Ian Dewar
Lead Chaplain, University Hospital of Morecambe Bay
[i] Hamel G and Prahalad C. K. Strategic Intent, Harvard business Classics, Harvard Business School Publishing 2010 p13